President Obama Grants 102 More Commutations, Many with Gun Crimes

Overall, President Obama has commuted more sentences than the past 11 Presidents combined, and still has more than three months left in office. (Chart: WhiteHouse.gov)

President Obama on Thursday commuted the sentences of 102 federal inmates serving hard time– but it turns out that many went to jail partially because of the illegal guns they carried.

In a statement termed, “102 Second Chances” White House Counsel Neil Eggleston explained the vast majority of the grants were for individuals serving “unduly harsh sentences for drug-related crimes under outdated sentencing laws.”

Eggleston pointed out that the pace of commutations issued by the Obama administration is much more brisk than any that has preceded it.

“With today’s grants, the President has commuted 774 sentences, more than the previous 11 presidents combined,” noted Eggleston. “With a total of 590 commutations this year, President Obama has now commuted the sentences of more individuals in one year than in any other single year in our nation’s history.”

One in six of those who had their terms commuted this week were behind bars on a combination of drug charges that also involved firearms possession, usually by a prohibited possessor.

The President commuted 111 federal prisoners in late August, in which a number of those with firearms charges were featured. Earlier the same month he did likewise for 214 inmates including 56 with gun felonies.

When called out on the fact that nearly 1 in 4 of the batch of 214 inmates had carried illegal guns, Obama outlined that it all came down to whether they were using the firearms or not and elaborated that his emphasis was on people who were overcharged and did not have a propensity for violence.

Deputy Attorney General Sally Q. Yates advised that more commutations are likely in the final months of President Obama’s term.

“The department has made great progress reviewing applications under the President’s clemency initiative to correct unduly harsh and outdated drug sentences,” Yates said in a statement Thursday. “President Obama has commuted 774 sentences, which is more than were commuted in the prior 66 years preceding his administration combined and we expect to continue to make history with additional commutations in the months ahead.”

Of the 102 commutations issued, the following 16 federal inmates were doing hard time for crimes that included weapons charges.

· Shawn Leo Barth – Bismarck, ND
Offense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine; possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute methamphetamine; distribution of a controlled substance methamphetamine; possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance marijuana; possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime; felon in possession of a firearm/ammunition; District of North Dakota
Sentence: Life plus 60 months’ imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release (March 22, 2004)

Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 322 months’ imprisonment.

· Arthur Jarrod Jackson – Dallas, TX
Offense: Possession with intent to distribute crack and aiding and abetting; carrying or use of a firearm during a drug crime and aiding and abetting; felon in possession of a firearm; Northern District of Texas
Sentence: 420 months’ imprisonment; five years’ supervised release (May 19, 1994)